"It's already twelve o'clock, it's time to wake them up," said Luke.
Without us realizing it, we kept talking so enjoyably that we didn't notice it was already twelve.
"Alright, let's do it," I said.
We put the tea cups we had just used into the cart, since we had no intention of drinking them again anytime soon.
I approached Hime's body and began to touch her arm.
"Hime..." I said.
At first, I didn't think the two of them would wake up quickly.
But not long after I called her name, Hime immediately woke up, and as if startled, Yuu-chan did the same.
I didn't know how this could happen, but it relieved me, because Luke and I didn't need to bother waking them repeatedly.
"It's already twelve, huh?" said Yuu-chan while stretching both her arms.
"We'll only sleep for two hours, wake us again at two," I said.
Luke gave his watch to Hime so she could see the current time.
"Sleep well, you two," said Hime as she then closed the door of this carriage.
There were still some pieces of wood we had placed outside; they could put them into the campfire so the fire wouldn't die.
We had also prepared a tent for the two of them earlier, so they wouldn't get cold.
Maybe it felt a bit strange, letting two girls stay outside while the men stayed inside.
But… well, what else could we do? Besides, they weren't the type to whine or get scared over something like that.
Luke had also created a transparent barrier around the area where this horse carriage was parked.
Surely no one could try to attack us, especially with Hime and Yuu-chan outside.
Hooaam… anyway, I should use these two hours to recover my stamina.
——
(Yuu side)
"Hime, don't you feel like we're letting them get too exhausted?" I asked.
For some reason, I felt like Hime and I were resting too much, while Yukito-sama and Luke couldn't get enough rest.
Especially since I was quite surprised when I heard they wanted to be woken again at two.
Even though I had seen for myself that they were the ones pulling this carriage, and they had only just gotten to sleep now—and only for two hours. To me, it felt like forcing themselves.
"You're right, I feel the same. But if that's what they want, then well, we should do what they want," answered Hime.
Letting Yukito-sama and Luke have what they want… I guess that's true too.
"I forgot to ask this, does the magic orb always have to be in your hand?" I asked.
The magic orb only left her hand when she washed herself earlier, and when she slept; as long as she was awake, she kept holding it.
"Not really, I just want to keep checking in case there's an emergency alert from somewhere not far from here, and we can go there directly," she answered.
Alright, if that's what she wants. Now, I want to ask her something more personal.
When I first met Yukito-sama, I felt something fill my heart, but eventually I learned what that feeling was.
I felt that Yukito-sama was someone who would accompany me until I could bring peace to this world.
He is a precious person to me, and my greatest wish is to bring Sahiko Yukito-sama and Sephira Hime together.
And when they are together, I want to stay close to them, so I can feel the warmth of being near them.
…I just want to remain someone close to them, so the three of us can stay together like when we first met.
And… as for Luke, I think he will be a good person to watch Yukito-sama and Hime live side by side.
If he wants, he can also join the four of us, but not too close—more like a shadow member.
"Hime, what do you want to do when this journey is over? … I think there's a possibility that Yukito-sama might be able to return to his original world," I said.
There was a lie I had just spoken: about Yukito-sama possibly being able to return.
The truth is, he cannot return because he already died in that world, and he will remain in this world forever.
"...That's true, huh? I haven't thought that far… maybe if that really happens, I want to ask him directly, whether that's really what he wants, maybe," answered Hime.
I had also asked Yukito-sama the same question before, about what he wanted to do after this journey ends.
"Yukito-san… I don't think he will do that," she said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Right now, he already has people who will always look after him and consider him family; there's no way he would want to go back, right?" asked Hime.
I felt I had just heard an answer that made my heart feel so relieved. Because it was such a good answer.
"I just got an idea, how about we stay awake and let the two of them sleep until morning?" I asked.
For a moment, I saw a gleam in Hime's eyes—perhaps she was already excited upon hearing my suggestion.
"Sure, let's do it," she said with a smile.
——
(Yukito side)
…Ehmm, what is this? Ah, I must be dreaming right now.
Wait, it feels like a little child is holding my leg… why does her face look a bit like mine, even though she's a girl?
Oh, she's calling me… w-wait a second, what did she just call me… papa? Did she just call me papa?
I looked around, and I was in a house that looked so beautiful despite being small, and there was someone cooking in the kitchen.
I couldn't see her clearly because whenever I looked at her, my vision felt blurry.
Faintly I heard her calling my name as well…
"Yukito-san!!"
Hmm, why did her voice become shouting? Even though she was still smiling.
"Yukito-san!!"
Huah!!
I woke from my sleep, with a feeling so heavy because I couldn't see the person from my dream anymore.
And when I woke up, I saw Luke still sleeping soundly beside me.
Meanwhile, Hime and Yuu-chan were in front of me—I think Hime had been shouting my name until I woke up.
"Yukito-sama, Hime and I are going to have breakfast first, quickly wake Luke so we can depart again soon," said Yuu-chan.
"Alright…" I said while fixing my messy hair.
I turned to Luke again and saw him sleeping with his clothes completely disheveled… Uwah, he looked worse than me.
"Oi… Luke… wake up," I said.
He was startled when I called him, and he immediately sat up just like I did.
"Yukito… is it just me, or has the sun already risen?" said Luke.
"No, it really is morning," I said.
I didn't know what had happened, but I could feel my body refreshed again because I had slept long enough.